Just Bento

From the archives. I got an email over the weekend from someone asking for vegetarian recipes. Well, there are a lot of vegetarian and vegan recipes here actually. Here is one I posted last year, a tasty ovo-vegetarian tofu-and-egg dish inspired by healthy Korean cooking, named after a classic italian dish. And of course, great in bentos! continue reading...

Has anyone tried to cook brown rice and adzuki beans together in a rice cooker? I think they have a similar cooking time, although maybe it would be necessary to presoak the beans... I have already successfully cooked brown rice and lentils together in my rice cooker, using the brown rice setting and adding just a little bit more water than I would have for just brown rice. This is a very easy vegetarian (and vegan) one pot meal, and you can add whatever seasonings you want to the water to vary the flavor. continue reading...

An Indian-influenced complete-meal recipe, great for thermal lunch jars or cold in regular bentos. Vegan, gluten-free, and even diabetic-friendly, but I promise it still tastes terrific! continue reading...

A very simple ‘instant’ pickle-relish-salad made with always available vegetables, plus an equally easy decorative cutting technique. continue reading...

Healthy and filling, this brown rice kayu or rice porridge is perfect for thermal lunch jars. continue reading...

Here’s a recipe for a classic vegetable dish that is served at New Year’s in Japan. It actually gets better after some time in the refrigerator, and is a great bento side dish that may even bring you some luck! continue reading...

A delicious fall-like walnut-miso paste that makes any bland cooked vegetables taste great. It’s easy to make and stash in your refrigerator. continue reading...

This week’s featured bento is a colorful Middle-Eastern inspired vegetarian bento from the Netherlands. continue reading...